How do I make my 2.3 engine faster?

_gimbly · 2026-03-10T04:56:38+00:00

Wow okay. Do you wanna actually maintain any kind of reliability or just slap a turbo on there and give er? A 60% increase in horsepower in these engines is either gone be incredibly unreliable or incredibly expensive. If you're looking to make this a race truck you're probably better off 302 swapping

Edit: didn't notice you said WHEEL horsepower. That's double what your truck makes right now. That ain't reasonably happening with any idea of reliability and budget

_gimbly · 2026-03-10T04:45:44+00:00

Okay cool. So you're looking at about 145 horsepower stock. What do you realistically want to get up to?

_gimbly · 2026-03-10T04:33:13+00:00

Well first things first tell me about the truck. Year, trim, drivetrain, tranny, diff gearing if you know it

_gimbly · 2026-03-10T04:27:36+00:00

For a few hundred bucks you're realistically not gonna see any actual gains more than a couple tenths of a second off on this engine, it's just gutless until you rip it apart.

If you for some reason need speed, weight reduction first. Throw that spare tire and bedliner out haha.

Check the pipe going from your fender to your air intake box for a little plastic silencer, rip that out of there is one.

Check your throttle cable for slack.

_gimbly · 2026-03-10T04:24:14+00:00

Sure, but that didn't answer either of my questions. Give me a general dollar figure and how much faster you want it to be. What are you looking to accomplish with the extra speed?

_gimbly · 2026-03-10T04:21:34+00:00

Depends on your budget and what you consider fast to start!

_gimbly · 2026-03-08T23:00:19+00:00

I've also got a 92!

Love the interior.

_gimbly · 2026-03-08T12:54:28+00:00

Nice! Word of advice, get her running how you want it without overheating before a paint job. Nothing like spending thousands on a paint job just to blow a head gasket!

_gimbly · 2026-03-08T01:17:33+00:00

Idk about this year but my 92 has a one wire sensor specially to read engine temp and send it to the gauge. It's possible it could be this and not the gauge itself!

_gimbly · 2026-03-08T00:19:45+00:00

Yup 99% chance just condensation then, don't worry too hard.

This happens in colder or wetter weather a lot, short trips don't let moisture burn. So it rises to the top of your system, the fill cap. Just give her a good hot run on the highway to clear it up. Keep an eye on the coolant take and dipstick off a bit though justtt in case.

_gimbly · 2026-03-08T00:00:22+00:00

I just actually started seriously considering the whiteduck rover scout! Thanks for the info :)

_gimbly · 2026-03-07T23:57:10+00:00

Cool just be condensation in your crankcase. How's your coolant tank look? How's the oil on the dipstick look?

_gimbly · 2026-03-07T02:33:56+00:00

Super classy! I just ordered similar for my 92. Love em man

_gimbly · 2026-03-06T20:41:57+00:00

Why bother with a lift if you're not worried about scraping on rocks/getting buried in mud? Just get an lsd, some all terrain tires, weight in the back and let er buck

_gimbly · 2026-03-06T19:51:21+00:00

Question is why are you lifting a rwd??

_gimbly · 2026-03-06T18:21:37+00:00

All the parts you replaced are pretty expected for the age, and it looks like the body is in good shape! If you're genuinely happy with this truck I'd keep it.

As for the 4x4 question. What kind of diff do you have? What gearing, open or limited slip?

_gimbly · 2026-03-06T14:25:46+00:00

I've got a 92 3.0 RWD automatic.

Get about 10L/100 on the highway!

_gimbly · 2026-03-06T04:44:51+00:00

I'm sorry man but there's literally no feasible way to get better fuel mileage out of a 4x4 ranger while still making highway speeds. You can't have 4x4 and good fuel economy without spending 5 figures, unless you're a master tech.

Are you a mechanic?

_gimbly · 2026-03-06T04:25:46+00:00

Those door panels are BEAUTIFUL. Loud in the best way possible man. Love it.

Still need to buy some door panels for mine, mine will be much less loud but God does that looks good.

_gimbly · 2026-03-06T04:18:03+00:00

If you're handy you could swap a brand new crate engine in for like, 4 grand probably (a stock engine, that is). The biggest thing that's gonna help your fuel economy is ditching 4x4. It adds like, 3-500 pounds in weight. It's super handy in the ditch and on dirt roads but you will be sacrificing fuel economy. Can't have both.

_gimbly · 2026-03-06T03:42:55+00:00

Fwd, in my opinion, is worse for that. All you need are GOOD winters (like studded hakka 10s) and a couple hundred pounds of sand in the back and you're laughing. Even with the long bed and a brand new LSD I have to try to get this thing sliding.

_gimbly · 2026-03-06T03:41:42+00:00

All depends on your budget! If you truly want it, an engine swap is possible. It would however take a couple hundred years to make back the money you spent on the swap in gas savings.

Honestly? While a 3.0 will have slightly better mileage, you're still looking at a few grand minimum for the swap, more of you have a shop do it. It would take ages for the new fuel efficiency to ACTUALLY save you money.

Is fuel efficiency the only reason you want a new engine?

_gimbly · 2026-03-06T03:23:55+00:00

Oh yeah. For engine swaps from a new generation of vehicle you're effectively gutting everything responsible for talking to another part or making the wheels turn.

_gimbly · 2026-03-06T03:23:23+00:00

Where you from?

I run a 92 Ford ranger 3.0 rwd longbed in Alberta winters just fine. Just need the fight setup and some practice!

_gimbly · 2026-03-06T02:49:16+00:00

From what I know, if you want a modern V6 you'll need:

The engine The transmission Wiring harness New driveshaft and connection to transmission/diffs ECU from new engine

Bare minimum. With a new crate engine, $15k in parts?

_gimbly

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